Group One winner Tiptronic has been retired.
The evergreen gelding has given his connections an enjoyable ride over the last few years, however, a series of disappointing results spelled the end of his racing career in the mind of co-trainer and part-owner Graham Richardson.
The Matamata conditioner purchased the son of O’Reilly out of Waikato Stud’s 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $100,000 and he has gone on to win eight races, including two at Group One level, and more than $800,000 in prizemoney.
He showed promise as a three-year-old when runner-up in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m) and continued to reward his connections over the next six years, with highlights including victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in 2020 and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day last year.
Tiptronic continued to show form earlier in the year when runner-up in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) in April, but failed to fire this preparation, beating just one runner home in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month.
Richardson said the stable favourite retires healthy and sound, and will enjoy the rest of his days at his Matamata property.
“There is nothing wrong with him. He is just doing things a bit upside down on raceday and he is a nine-year-old,” said Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall.
“He has been an amazing horse for us and I don’t want anything to happen to him.
“I am building a paddock in the backyard for him and when that’s done he will have a home for the rest of his life.”
Richardson has long held a soft spot for Tiptronic and said he was a bit of a handful before he was gelded, and he has continued to thrive since.
“I bought him at the sales. He was only tiny and I paid $100,000 for him. I just loved the way he walked and he has a good sire, and is from a great family,” he said.
“He was very cheeky when he was young, so we had to geld him.
“He was rearing up going out to the track one morning and cut his leg with his other leg and when he was down getting it stitched up I said ‘you might as well geld him at the same time.
“He just changed shape once we gelded him. He got tall and long.
“He has always been very genuine, but has always been the underdog, which was quite surprising.
“We have had some great times with him and there is going to be a big gap now.”